KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 ― An anti-terrorism law with preventive detention can be used in tandem with laws against actions detrimental to parliamentary democracy, a senior police official said after a former Umno leader was detained for lodging formal reports in foreign countries.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said that while Section 124C belongs to the Penal Code, the security offence Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan is accused of makes the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act applicable.

“Section 124C is an offence that also falls under SOSMA... it is a security offence,” he said, adding that procedures against the former Umno Batu Kawan deputy chief had been initiated under the SOSMA from the offset.

Section 124C covers acts against parliamentary democracy while Sections 124K and 124L deal with sabotage and attempting to sabotage the state, respectively.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar previously categorised Khairuddin’s actions in soliciting foreign investigations against 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to be an act of sabotage against the country.

“The Penal Code is the offence, but the procedure falls under SOSMA,” Noor Rashid explained today.

Khairuddin is being detained for 28 days as provided under SOSMA, after he was re-arrested yesterday following his release from a six-day remand.

Noor Rashid today said the former Umno man may be released before the detention period expires.

“SOSMA gives power to us for 28 days, on the 21st day we will refer the outcome of the investigation to the deputy public prosecutor for decision... there is a possibility that we will wrap up the investigations earlier,” he added.

Khairuddin was arrested last Friday, the day he was reportedly due to fly to New York in the US to meet with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and was remanded a further six days on Saturday.

Prior to his arrest, Khairuddin claimed that he was barred from leaving the country by the Immigration Department.

He had been on a global tour to solicit investigations by other countries into 1MDB, after US-based business daily, the Wall Street Journal published a series of reports detailing dubious activity allegedly involving 1MDB, beginning with an exposé in July on the US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) deposit in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal accounts.